Oct. 24, 2013

Sparks City Attorney Chet Adams speaks in 2006. / RGJ File

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After initially refusing to release the name of the Sparks Middle School shooter, the city of Sparks released the 12-year-old boy’s name on Thursday afternoon.

The Reno Gazette-Journal had requested the name Tuesday after Sparks police said in a news conference they would not release it.

The RGJ editorial board called on Sparks to release the name, arguing that Sparks police needed to follow the state’s public records laws.

Sparks spokesman Adam Mayberry said in releasing the name that “during an interview covering the legality of withholding the name of the Sparks Middle School shooter, the Sparks City Attorney (Chet Adams) acknowledged the existence of an online news story by Univision.

“The City Attorney’s acknowledgement of the Univision news story was misinterpreted as an acknowledgment that the name of the Sparks Middle School shooter mentioned in Univision’s report was correct.”

Sparks cited the widespread release of the Univision story and the issue of fairness to families and news media when it confirmed the name of the shooter was Jose Reyes.

Reyes has been described as a 12-year-old seventh-grader who attended Sparks Middle School. Many students have told RGJ reporters they recognized him from the school but didn’t know him well.

Those who did discuss him with reporters said he liked video games. He was described as having friends but shy.